FLOWERY BRANCH, - Three days after he was among 16 players that were cut, outside linebacker James Cotton was signed to the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad Tuesday to give Matt Stewart some security.

Stewart is excited about the challenge he faces Sunday when he likely will play his first NFL game without leaving the field on third down. Entering this week's season opener at Dallas, the Falcons lost both players behind Stewart, who starts at outside linebacker on the strong side.

Keith Newman was suspended four games for violating the NFL's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances. Sam Rogers, listed No. 1 on the weak side, took some snaps behind Stewart in last week's 20-9 loss at Cleveland.

Rogers, though, tore cartilage in his left knee against the Browns and likely will be listed as doubtful Sunday.

"Not a lot of depth or none?" Stewart asked jokingly on Monday. "That's actually a great opportunity for me. That's what I've wanted since I became a starter - to start and play the whole game."

Stewart, a fourth-round pick from Vanderbilt in 2001 who earned a starting job last year, always wanted to be like inside linebacker Keith Brooking, a two-time Pro Bowler, and stay on the field regardless of the defensive situation.

"Yeah, I was coming out when we didn't have four 'backer packages," Stewart said. "I still come out in nickel and dime, but when we have four 'backers now, I'll stay, which is good. It's the best opportunity. When they have to pass, you get to rush a lot more."

Chicago drafted Cotton, a former Ohio State standout, as a seventh-rounder in 2000, but the Bears cut him before the season started. Cotton spent the next two years bouncing between the Canadian Football League and the now-defunct XFL.

The Buffalo Bills gave Cotton a chance when they signed him in February 2002, but he was released in training camp.

SUBHEAD:Danzler picked up

Woodrow Dantzler is a Falcon after he was claimed off waivers from the Cowboys.

Dantzler played quarterback at Clemson before signing as an undrafted free agent in Dallas last year. The Cowboys cut him before the season opener, signed him to their practice squad and then re-signed him to the active roster for the last five weeks of the regular season.

After returning 27 kickoffs for an average of 22.3 yards, including an 84-yard touchdown against San Francisco, Dantzler was moved to safety when Bill Parcells was hired as head coach in January.

The Falcons will use Dantzler as a backup running back, after cutting fullback George Layne to make room on the 53-man roster.

SUBHEAD:Hard road back

Layne's release, might surprise those who watched him catch five passes for 67 yards in the preseason opener with Green Bay.

But the former Texas Christian standout never progressed as a run-blocker in head coach Dan Reeves' offense. He fell behind rookie Justin Griffith, a fourth-round pick from Mississippi State, even though Griffith missed the Packers game with a sore ankle. Layne couldn't play at Cleveland because of a pulled quadriceps.

Though he said he wasn't concerned, Layne never was quite as aggressive after suffering a terrible concussion in preseason last year against the New York Giants. He was injured in the second quarter, and Layne said afterward his memory went blank after hitting his head against the Georgia Dome floor. Layne played most of the third and fourth quarters in that game.

Atlanta re-signed him in November last year, and he took over at fullback when a vicious concussion ended Bob Christian's season in Week 16. Christian retired in March.

SUBHEAD:Practice time

Cotton was one of five players signed to the practice squad. Joining him were quarterback David Rivers, defensive end Raymond House and offensive tackles Dwayne Morgan and Jason Jowers.

NFL teams are allowed to sign no more than five players, none of whom can be vested veterans. Practice squad-players are essentially free agents in the sense that any other team can sign them if they offer a spot on the active roster.

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Wednesday, September 3, 2003.